Joyous Giving
Stewardship #4
November 9th
Pastor Ben Fleming
Turn in your bibles to the book of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy. Genesis – Exodus – Leviticus – Numbers and Deuteronmy. The 4th and 5th books in the Pentatuch. What does it mean to you to be faithful? Does it mean that you take a break at times or you forget or you decide that it is okay to no longer to be faithful – you deserve to be happy and this situation that you find yourself in is just to tough? It depends what we are talking about when we say faithful. My wife wants and expects me to be faithful to her. And I have been. My children want my wife and I to be faithful to each other. When Cheryl was hired by her boss – he expected her to be faithful at work. The schools take great pains at making sure students are faithful – their funds depend upon it. I am glad that the farmers are faithful to plant corn and wheat seed every year --- did anyone have some toast or cereal this morning? The bible expects a believer to be faithful to a church family and the bible expects a pastor to faithfully prepare and study to preach God’s Word.
Faithfulness describes God. He is never unfaithful. Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is faithful God, keeping His covenant to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.” Faithfulness has everything to do with keeping your word. Is your yes yes and your no no? Deut 32:4 “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, and upright is He.” Faithfulness has to do with that which is right or righteous. Psalm 12:1 “Help, Lord, for the godly are no more, the faithful have vanished from among men.” Faithfulness in men is what God is looking for. Faithfulness and godliness go together. Psalm 31:23 “Love the Lord all His saints. The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud He pays back in full.” Those who are proud are not faithful and God opposes them. In the New Testament Jesus tells us a parable about 3 servants who were entrusted with His masters money – the first two servants were faithful with the money and the master replies “well done, good and faithful servant” You have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things” Jesus was referring to money – to possessions – ……….there is a connection between being faithful with what God gives us and the blessings of God in our lives. God’s children who are trustworthy with what God gives them --------------- He gives them more.
We are talking about money – but more specifically about stewardship of what God gives to us. If you are here for the first time --- please do not get up and walk out this is our 4th message on stewardship. For many in the church – when they think of giving they think of tithing. I hear that word from many of you. Most people in churches do not know what tithing means and most in the church do not tithe. Today – I want to briefly cover with you tithing and then focus on the rewards of God for the faithful giver. Please stand as we read our text this morning. Deut 14:22-23 and Deut 14:27-29 and Numbers 18:21 ---- PHIL
In the Old Testament the Jewish people were commanded to tithe under the Mosaic Law. They were commanded to give three tithes that averaged 20 -23 percent per year. Write it in on your outline:
1. Levitical Tithe. 10 percent of everything the Jewish people grew or raised was to be brought to the Temple. It was used to support the Levites who were the priests, musicians and servants who served in the tabernacle. Levites were not just the priests, they cleaned the tabernacle toilets and made the coffee. The temple had store rooms where tithes were brought and kept. Levites did not grow crops or raise animals. They depended upon the tithes of the people. Numbers 18:21 “And to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel, for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent meeting.” …… It was God’s plan that the priests who came from the tribe of Levi would focus their full time on worship and teaching of the law……. In the New Testament – Paul says in the Christian church the one who devotes himself to preaching and teaching is to be supported by those who hear it. You read such things as “the workman is worthy of his wages”. The first tithe in the Old Testament was to support the Levite ministers.
2. Festival Tithe. The second annual tithe the Jewish people were required to give was a festival tithe from the remaining 9 tenths of their income to be set apart for the national religious programs of the Jewish nation. We read this in Deut 14. It was used by the Levites to run the temple. You might say it paid for the heat and electricity. Everyone participated in providing for what kept the temple running – everyone participated in paying the heating bill – the electric bill – everyone helped pay for the TP and cups at the water fountain.
3. Welfare Tithe. The third tithe that the Mosaic law required was a welfare tithe in which every third year, the festival tithe was not to be taken to the temple in Jerusalem but it was to be kept at home and each family was to use it to feed the poor that came to or by their homes. God’s people were to take care of the poor. Every home had a room in it where this tithe was kept and when someone came by or when a family member knew of someone who was in need each family could help them. Since it was every 3 years it was thought by scholars to be a 1/3 per cent per year. So if you think in terms of tithing as a believer – then you must give 23 percent of your income. There is no church today that would refuse that……….. So – here is what I would propose to you and I realize some would disagree with me:
It is significant that no where in the New Testament is a believer commanded to tithe. In fact, you will not find any commands to give a mere 10 percent. If you believe the OT – the command was just over 23 percent. Tithing or 10 percent is a guideline to help a believer become a generous giver…………The New Testament commands a believer to give. Tithing is a tool that God has given us to help a believer become a faithful giver. So – may I ask you to stop thinking and speaking about becoming a tithing believer ------------ an American Christian is so prosperous that they cannot think and see themselves as being a New Testament giver unless they start at 10%. You have to start somewhere. ACCEPTING THE TEN PERCENT CHALLENGE . Now let’s switch gears. What are the rewards of faithful giving?
Rewards for Faithful Giving -- You will find that the bible promises four kinds of rewards to the faithful giver.
1. The Bible promises an emotional reward. A faithful giver will be happier. Everybody in here wants to be happy. Faithful giving increases your happiness. Acts 20:35 “In every thing I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Even in Malachi chapter 3 God promises that He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.” Blessing includes emotional happiness. The word blessed means fortunate or happy. When we think of being blessed most of the time we think of money or stuff. When someone wins the lottery we think they are fortunate --- they will be happy. When Jesus said – “it is more blessed to give than to receive” He was saying that the person who gives another person $1000 is happier and is more fortunate than the person who got the $1000. We do not think that way. We think the person who got the $1000 should be the happiest. Jesus knew that when the Holy Spirit was inside of a person when they give to God and others with a cheerful heart ---- God causes them to experience great happiness. Some of you have tasted that. There is an emotional affection that takes over. There is a joy that you know that God sees what you are doing and that God is pleased. There is a joy in expanding the work of God’s kingdom. When Denny Bock asked our church to give a laptop to Mohammad I could not wait to do it --- I did not even get permission ---- I did it and I looked forward to telling you all what we did and when the photo came of him I was tickeled to show it to you.
John D Rockefeller said – “I have made millions, but it has brought me no happiness.”
When Howard Hughes was asked how much is enough – he said, “just one dollar more.”
Randy Alcorn – the founder of eternal perspective ministries has wrote, “ In my own experience, there is nothing more exhilarating than to participate in God’s kingdom program by meeting the spiritual and physical needs of others. Nothing is so stimulating and rewarding as joining with brothers and sisters in Christ in the highest cause in the universe --- bringing glory to God by extending His grace to others. Every since I came to Christ as a high school student, financial giving has been a vital part of my walk with God. For me, growing and giving have been almost inseparable. I do not consider myself a perfect model of giving. Yet some of the greatest joys of my life, and some of the closest times of intimacy with my Lord have come in the giving of myself and my resources.” Stingy Christians are not joyful. You cannot have joy in God and not become a giver. That seems like a selfish reason to become a giver --- I want more joy and I want to pursue joy. There is a godly pleasure in that but never fall into the trap of thinking pursuing joy in God is sin. There is no sin in pursuing pleasure in God.
2. The bible promises a spiritual reward. A faithful giver will experience a greater sense of a closeness to God. John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love Him and show myself to Him.” Pastor Rod Rogers says in his book Pastor Driven Stewardship – “in my church I want God’s people to experience a greater sense of God’s love and presence in their life” – when someone tells me that is lacking I simply challenge them to give 10 times the amount they are currently giving and every person who did what I told them to do has come back with a testimony telling me of how much closer to God they are and how much more of the love of God they feel.”……… We can say that giving brings you closer to God because the bible says that God loves a cheerful giver so that tells us that there is a special affection in the heart of God for a giver and the words of Jesus in John 14 tells us that obeying the commands of God is essential to feeling the love of God. I do not change the love of God or make God love me any more by giving……. but I taste – know and feel the love of God because I obey God. Obeying God is drawing near to God and the bible says – draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Since God loves to give --- it makes sense that if you and I do not share His commitment to giving - you will never develop a deep intimate and satisfying relationship with Him. 2x 3rd reward.
3. The Bible promises an eternal reward. A faithful giver will be given treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:19 – 21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Heaven is a long way off for many of us and we do not think about or really believe what Jesus said. Some of us think – who cares about treasures in heaven – I am just glad I am not going to hell. But the bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” So if your heart is focused on money, your debts and your stuff and getting more stuff and better stuff then your heart is focused on the things of this earth but the believer who is focused on laying up treasure in heaven is bringing a bit of heaven to this earth to their heart. You are walking this earth with the focus of your heart on the eternal rewards that God promises……. When you get to heaven are you going to be surprised when someone walks up to you and says to you “thank you because of your investments I am here.” ?? I wonder how many believers are going to get to heaven and be surprised that what they sent on ahead did not earn them much eternal treasure. Many Christians who are rich in this life will find they are poor in the next --- this is perhaps what Jesus meant when He said – “But many who are first will be last and the last, first.” ---- eternal – spiritual and emotional rewards……….. and then #4
4. The Bible promises a financial reward. A faithful believer will always have more money than they need. I almost hesitate to put this one down but I cannot get around it since you find it in God’s Word – but what God has meant for good – man takes and turns it into greed. We are tempted to think: “I will give so that I can get. This promise says nothing about man and man’s need and any obligation that God has to man but it says everything about God……God always gives and He gives abundantly even when man does not. God does not need man’s giving --- giving is one of the ways that God fashions His children to become like Him. Look with me at three guarantees in the Word of God about money.
* Your level of giving determines your level of blessing. Luke 6:38 “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” You give to God a token every so often and you can expect God to give to you a token back. 2 Corinthians 9:6 “he who sows sparingly reaps sparingly” --- throw a few handfuls of seed on the ground once or twice a year and that is what you can expect to reap back from God. I challenge you to be a faithful giver. I challenge you to increase every year the size of your giving – but start first by being faithful by giving the standard He set – a tithe.
* God rewards your generous giving by meeting all your financial needs. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything.” Proverbs 3:9 -10, Proverbs 11:24 - 25, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:18 -19. The bible never says that God will provide your wants ---- the more prosperous we as Americans have become the more we think something is a need. How many of you had cell phones and internet and HDT 15 years ago???? It is by God’s grace that He meets your needs. In September of 1977 I left my parents home for language school and the mission field. I was a baby giver at age 22 --- I have never never had a situation where God did not meet my needs. To be honest with you --- I feel abundantly blessed. I have never won the lottery or been given an inheritance but I have been to places and done what most people would never think of doing. I have had a blast the past 31 years. Now --- I do not want you think that I do not struggle with worrying about making ends meet – I do. I have confessed many many times my lack of trust in God even though I have seen His track record – I can say to you we have always had sufficiency in everything and we give beyond 10%. 3rd guarantee
* God rewards your generous giving with an abundance of money to give to His work. Professor Hodge said about verse 8 of Corinthians. “From verse 8 -11 the apostle Paul assures the believer that the liberal and cheerful giver will always have something to give.” God gives the believer more money and He gives them more money not to spend on themselves but to invest more in His Kingdom……2x God wants to give His children the priviledge and choice of where they are going to invest money. Let me draw this out and say something you might disagree with……….. “In a sense” --- God wants to trust His children that they know better than He does where to spend the money so that it will bring more return for the Kingdom of God.” God rewards your generous giving with an abundance of money to give to His work. God rewards you by meeting all your financial needs and your level of giving determines your level of blessing.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You that You are God who gives. Teach us to give. Help us to give. Father we want to be stewards of what you have given to us and that we will hear You say “well done good and faithful servant.” Lord – thank You for the emotional rewards that come from giving. Thank you for the spiritual rewards and the eternal rewards that come from giving. Thank you for the financial rewards and that You guarantee us that You will meet all our needs.
Father – bless those who give. Help them to be faithful. Encourage them. Keep them healthy. Give them more so that they can give and give. Keep their cars running. Provide jobs for those who are jobless. Help us to look to You and find our pleasure in You and you alone. Amen
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Ten Percent Challenge
ACCEPTING THE TEN PERCENT CHALLENGE
GOD’S GUARANTEE
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out so much blessing until it overflows” ( Mal. 3:10)
THE CONDITIONS
Remember the principle: You give first.
1. You sign God’s Guarantee and give 10 percent of your income for a period of ninety days.
2. Each time you receive your paycheck you take your liberal gift out for the Lord and bring it to Silver Hills Church.
OUR GUARANTEE
1. If, at the end of ninety days, you feel your decision was a mistake, or that it created a financial crisis, or you did not receive a blessing, we will give your money back promptly.
2. That’s all there is to it. Remember: you have signed a money back guarantee – you have nothing to loose.
Your name _________________________
ACCEPTING THE OVER THE TEN PERCENT CHALLENGE
1. Recognizing God’s ownership and my stewardship, and wanted the blessings promised, I hereby choose to accept God’s Guarantee Challenge.
2. For ninety days, I will give over 10 percent of my income to the Lord through Green Valley Church.
_________I already give over 10 percent
_________I will start giving over 10 percent
_________ I will increase the amount I already give over 10 per cent by
Name ______________________________
Signature ___________________________
Date ______________________
GOD’S GUARANTEE
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out so much blessing until it overflows” ( Mal. 3:10)
THE CONDITIONS
Remember the principle: You give first.
1. You sign God’s Guarantee and give 10 percent of your income for a period of ninety days.
2. Each time you receive your paycheck you take your liberal gift out for the Lord and bring it to Silver Hills Church.
OUR GUARANTEE
1. If, at the end of ninety days, you feel your decision was a mistake, or that it created a financial crisis, or you did not receive a blessing, we will give your money back promptly.
2. That’s all there is to it. Remember: you have signed a money back guarantee – you have nothing to loose.
Your name _________________________
ACCEPTING THE OVER THE TEN PERCENT CHALLENGE
1. Recognizing God’s ownership and my stewardship, and wanted the blessings promised, I hereby choose to accept God’s Guarantee Challenge.
2. For ninety days, I will give over 10 percent of my income to the Lord through Green Valley Church.
_________I already give over 10 percent
_________I will start giving over 10 percent
_________ I will increase the amount I already give over 10 per cent by
Name ______________________________
Signature ___________________________
Date ______________________
Worldliness by C.J.Mahaney
Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney
Today, the greatest challenge facing American believers is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world. Charles Spurgeon wrote 150 years ago, “Worldliness is growing over the church; she is mossed with it.”
Would I be able to tell you apart? Would I be able to discern a difference between you and your converted neighbor, coworker, classmate or friend? Have the lines between Christian and worldly conduct in your life become so indistinguishable that there is really no difference at all?
What dominates your mind and stirs your heart? Is it discontentment with your life? Longings for earthly pleasures? Does outward prosperity appeal to you more than growth in godliness? Or is your prayer life characterized by heartfelt supplications for God’s will to be done and His kingdom to come?
Do you covet the esteem and crave the approval of those around you? do you go to great lengths to avoid looking foolish or being rejected for your Christian faith? Do you consider present and material results more important than eternal reward? Have you departed from God and adopted idols instead? Are you at war with God?
Worldliness does not consist in outward behavior, though our actions can certainly be an evidence of worldliness within. But the real location of worldliness is internal. It resides in our hearts.
John Calvin wrote, “the evil in our desires often lies not in what we want, but in the fact that we want it too much.”
If you’re more excited about the release of a new movie or video game than about serving in the local church, if you are drawn to people more because of their physical attractiveness or personality than their character, if you are impressed by Hollywood stars or professional athletes regardless of their lack of integrity and morality, then you have been seduced by this fallen world.
Do you want the world to lose its appeal? Then crowd out worldliness by filling your affections with the cross of Christ. Crucify the world as dead and undesirable thing by meditating on the love of the Savior.
Charles Spurgeon urged us to “dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard.”
We must fight worldliness because it dulls our affections for Christ and distracts our attention from Christ. Worldliness is so serious because Christ is so glorious.
Today, the greatest challenge facing American believers is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world. Charles Spurgeon wrote 150 years ago, “Worldliness is growing over the church; she is mossed with it.”
Would I be able to tell you apart? Would I be able to discern a difference between you and your converted neighbor, coworker, classmate or friend? Have the lines between Christian and worldly conduct in your life become so indistinguishable that there is really no difference at all?
What dominates your mind and stirs your heart? Is it discontentment with your life? Longings for earthly pleasures? Does outward prosperity appeal to you more than growth in godliness? Or is your prayer life characterized by heartfelt supplications for God’s will to be done and His kingdom to come?
Do you covet the esteem and crave the approval of those around you? do you go to great lengths to avoid looking foolish or being rejected for your Christian faith? Do you consider present and material results more important than eternal reward? Have you departed from God and adopted idols instead? Are you at war with God?
Worldliness does not consist in outward behavior, though our actions can certainly be an evidence of worldliness within. But the real location of worldliness is internal. It resides in our hearts.
John Calvin wrote, “the evil in our desires often lies not in what we want, but in the fact that we want it too much.”
If you’re more excited about the release of a new movie or video game than about serving in the local church, if you are drawn to people more because of their physical attractiveness or personality than their character, if you are impressed by Hollywood stars or professional athletes regardless of their lack of integrity and morality, then you have been seduced by this fallen world.
Do you want the world to lose its appeal? Then crowd out worldliness by filling your affections with the cross of Christ. Crucify the world as dead and undesirable thing by meditating on the love of the Savior.
Charles Spurgeon urged us to “dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard.”
We must fight worldliness because it dulls our affections for Christ and distracts our attention from Christ. Worldliness is so serious because Christ is so glorious.
Joyful Giving #3
Joyous Giving
Stewardship #3
November 2, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Introduction: Turn in your bible to 2 Cor chapter 9. Please turn off the lights. Eph 5:8 “ 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. ----- as a believer in Jesus Christ you are to expose your life – your thinking – your values and all that you are to the light of the Word of God. Your relationships are to be under the light of the Word of God --- that is why we have been taking the Peacemakers training on Tuesdays….. Your marriage must be under the light of the Word of God – that is why we have the seminar Love and Respect. Your dating must be under the light of the Word of God – the movies that you watch and the books that you read must be under the light of the Word of God. How you are going to vote this Tuesday must be under the light of the Word of God and not your political party…….Your sexuality must be under the light of the Word of God….. Your work must be under the light of the Word of God. Your money and your possessions must be under the light of the Word of God.
All that you are and think must be under the light of the Word of God. Paul says – “for you were once darkness but now your are light in the Lord – live as a child of the light and find out what pleases the Lord.” If the bible tells us that we must find out what pleases God then we have to assume that we do not know. We do not hear much about pleasing the Lord today. Most of us are only concerned with pleasing ourselves ---- that is like everyone around us and we do not concern ourselves with bringing all of the areas of our lives under the light of the Word of God – we are worldly. Jerry Bridges says in his book “Respectable Sins” Worldliness means accepting the values, mores, and practices of our nice unbelieving society around us without discerning whether or not those values are biblical.”…..
I went to the trouble of typing out for you some words about wordliness from C.J. Mahaney – it is in your program. We must become a people who live as a child of the light and find out what pleases the Lord.
Psalm 135:5- 6 “I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” So God is not all that concerned with pleasing His creation – He is focused on pleasing Himself….. He is hedonistic. Proverbs 15:8 “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him.” Prayer pleases God. The prayer of a believer who is in right standing with Him pleases Him. God is pleased when His children talk to Him……….. John 8:28 - 29 (Jesus) “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”…. Jesus sought to please the Father during His 33 years on this earth and He always fully pleased the Father while being fully a man. If we pursue being like Christ then we must pursue pleasing God…… Listen kids to this one from Eph 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” It is pleasing to God to obey your parents. It is pleasing to God to not give your dad and mom a hard time. If you have a hard time obeying your mom and dad just think of your disobedience as displeasing to God. 1 Timothy 2:3 says that when we pray for our political leaders it pleases God and 1 John 3:21 says “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son – Jesus Christ and to love one another.”…….. It pleases God when you believe in Jesus. It pleases God when that belief in Jesus causes you to love one another. It pleases God when your belief in Jesus causes your life to change and begin to reflect godliness.
We are talking about stewardship – managing the money and possessions that God has given to us. We either want to please God with our money and possessions or we are only concerned with pleasing ourselves. We are in the state that we are in as a country because the majority of us are only concerned with pleasing our selves when it comes to money and what we do with that money. Some of us are deep deep in debt. Some of us are even considering bankruptcy as a way out and some of us have no idea how to get a handle on our money so that it does not control us. This past week – is the first time in 13 years that I have had someone meet with me for help in managing their money. Pleasing God has got to become an issue in our lives especially when it comes to money. Most believers are ashamed of how they have managed money and many simply do not want to change. I am talking about money – this is our third message on money – we have a second testimony today --- please do not get up and walk out on me and I am sorry if you feel like I am stepping on your toes – my heart is to encourage you and to help you and to challenge you to repent and to glorify God by the way you use and manage the money He gives you. Jesus gives us these sobering words in (TOP OF YOUR OUTLINE) Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Everyone of us have been given much because we live in this country………..If you and I learn to please God in our giving…. I guarantee you that you will experience more joy in God. Do you want more joy in God? So – today I want to give you 10 ways to give that pleases God. We are talking about joyful giving. Last week we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8 – today we are reading chapter 9. I am going to use last weeks chapter and this weeks chapter since they both go together. PHIL .
Ten Ways to Give That Pleases God
1. God is pleased when you give even though you are overwhelmed with your problems. Last week we read about the believers in Macedonia 2 Cor. 8:1 – 2 “Now, brothers, about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” These believers were persecuted – robbed – imprisoned and beaten for their faith. Most of them had been layed off from work and had their homes foreclosed on. Do you only give when you have no problems? Do you only give when you have paid all the bills? Do you give only when you have work? Some of you are overwhelmed with expenses and problems. I have known what that feels like….. In June – because of our grandsons death -- the extra expenses in our life went over $3000.00. Some of it was paid for by others but I still thought to myself – “how in the world are we going to pay for these things and when it came to giving to God in June - I actually thought of not doing that ----- but by God’s grace we gave. Give – even when your problems overwhelm you.
2. God is pleased when you give and you are in poverty. Poverty is relative in the United States because even those who receive disability and social security checks are rich compared to the rest of the world.
Turn to the gospel of Mark chap 12:41………. Jesus is teaching in the Jewish Temple courts at this time and people are bringing their giving to the temple. Follow along with me: “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” What this woman did is recorded in the bible for some reason……. God’s Word teaches us that no matter how difficult our financial situation is we can still give something to God. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck but there is no one in here who goes down to the Carson River with a 5 gal drum to get water and there is no one in here who uses a hoe and goes out in a field to use the bathroom. God is pleased when you give and you are in poverty.
3. God is pleased when you give beyond your ability. Verse 3 of chapter 8. “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” These believers gave what they could afford and what they could not afford. These believers trusted God and He did not let them down. Determine what you should give to God and you will find yourself giving beyond your ability to give. You can never say you can’t give because you are not able to. If you not able to give then you can give. God gave the Macedonian believers that ability and He will not stop doing that with you.
4. God is pleased when you give generously. Verse 2 of chapter 8 “out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” When Paul wrote this for some reason he used the words joy and generosity. God is pleased when we give generous amounts with generous hearts. Notice that the amount goes with the condition of the heart. It is possible to give and not have a generous heart. Your gift may be small compared to someone else’s gift but if your heart is generous --- God is pleased. God is not pleased when we give from stingy hearts ---- A man prayed once --- “God, you can have anything you can pry out of my hands”. You laugh at that but some have said it. Think about it:
Everything you have came from God and belongs to God – simple gratitude should motive you to give as much money to God’s work as you can. Do not stop at 10% ----10% is not this legalistic spiritual mark that you have achieved and when you have achieved it you have arrived spiritually. Do not stop at giving an offering which is giving above 10%. Learn to give sacrificially. Dr Mark Dever has said that as American believers we cannot say we give sacrificially until we have given to the point where the gift has lowered our net worth. I have to say that in my Christian life -- My wife and I give generously but we have only given sacrificially one time --- if I use Pastor Dever’s definition. If that confuses you please do not hesitate to ask me to expand on it.
5. God is pleased when we give eagerly. Verse 4 of chap. 8. “they pleaded with us for the privilege in this service to the saints.” We do not know exactly what was going on here – Paul and Titus may have seen how poor these believers were and the believers found out about the need and the were eager to give. This example tells us that God is pleased when His people have an attitude of an eagerness to give. That means they did not feel obligated – or pressured or guilt driven. An eagerness to give means that you plan to give. It means that you think about and pray about your giving before the opportunity to give --- it is not an impulse thing. I am pleased to say that in the past 13 years I can think of a few people who have asked me how they could give to a need. It happened just this past week. God is pleased when our giving is from an eagerness.
6. God is pleased when we give cheerfully. Chp 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Is there a joy in your heart when it comes to giving on Sunday? Do you resent having a bag passed around and or do you feel guilty for not putting in something? This verse was driven home in my thinking in 1979 when I was in Zululand and at a Zulu church service and it came time for the offering --- everyone stood up and everyone had some money in their hand and they were waving it back and forth – smiling and laughing and we all sang and two steeped in a line up to the front and put our giving in the offering plate. They demonstrated outwardly what Paul is talking about pleases God inwardly. If there is joy in your heart when it comes time to give to God – God is pleased. ---- so if there is no joy then you are off the hook when it comes to giving????? That is not biblical thinking…….. give and ask God for joy.
7. God is pleased when you give yourself to Him and to your spiritual leaders along with your money.
I know of believers who give… but they want nothing to do with submitting to the spiritual leadership of a local church family. They miss grace giving. They miss joyful giving. Their giving is not pleasing to God……… 2 Cor 8:5 “And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” Paul clearly lays out that giving oneself to God and then to spiritual leaders is God’s will. You can give and be out of God’s will. You either support your spiritual leaders or you do not. These believers that Paul is writing about were not devoted to a doctrine or a certain issue that they had as a hobby horse and that was the only reason they gave but they were first and foremost devoted to God. They loved Him – obeyed Him and served Him and they were devoted to their spiritual leaders – they loved them – respected them and served them. When you are devoted to God and devoted to your spiritual leaders along with your money that pleases God.
8. God is pleased when you accept your personal responsibility to give. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2 Paul laid for the church this principle. “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of the week (Sunday) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income as I directed the churches in Galatia, so do you also.” What does these two verses tell you? Every believer in a local church is to give. “each one of you” is pretty clear. Everybody is to participate in the support of their church family. It does not matter what your situation is --- God expects you to support your church family. COMMENT…. It pleases God when you accept your responsibility. Take out of your program an insert that I put in there – Accepting the 10% challenge. I want to help you be responsible. I want to help you please God. Let me read this for you………..
Take out insert and read it……… God is pleased when you accept your personal responsibility to give.
9. God is pleased when you carefully plan your giving. 1 Cor 16:2 “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” Paul was teaching the church to plan ahead. He was teaching the church financial planning. He was teaching the church to plan ones giving. Planned giving involves choosing a time to give. You are going to give every pay period – every week – every two weeks or once a month. Planned giving involves choosing a form of giving. You are going to give cash or check – when you give you are going to put it in an envelope with your name on it so that at the end of the year a record can be sent back to you so you can see how your giving was.
Planned giving involves choosing a place to give – for the believer the #1 place is their local church family – the book of Malachi tells us that.
A good steward carefully plans how he should invest His masters money in his masters best interest. When extra giving opportunities come to our family – Cheryl and I discuss them and we choose very carefully where we give. We have had many giving opportunities come to us as a church family over the past years but we have chosen very carefully where we invest God’s money. God is pleased when you carefully plan your giving.
10. God is pleased when you base your giving on the level of your prosperity. 16:2 “On the first day of the week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper.” The apostle Paul lays out giving here for the believer. We are to give to God based on the level of our financial prosperity. The more you make the more you give to God. The more prosperous God makes you the more you invest in His kingdom. Some of us do not consider ourselves prosperous – you are. You live in this country. My wife and I have learned to give 20% of our income back to God. That is this year – I want to see it increase next year. Do you remember the promise from the first message Luke 6 “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Cheryl and I have seen and experienced the truth of this promise --- we just want to increase our measuring cup.
I want you to hear how others are dealing with the issue of giving in their lives and Andy Getas is going to give us his testimony.
Andy testimony
Let us pray: Heavenly Father – I pray for your people that they would become pleasers of You. Help them not to forget to share with others, for with such sacrifices You are pleased. Would you work in them that which is pleasing to You. Would you help them to become generous givers. Help them to become pleasing stewards of the money and possessions that You have given to them. Father – may we walk in the light of the Word of God with our finances. Show us where our attitudes need to be changed. Show us where our financial habits need repenting. Lord – may we become a church family of generous givers. We ask in Jesus name --- Amen
Stewardship #3
November 2, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Introduction: Turn in your bible to 2 Cor chapter 9. Please turn off the lights. Eph 5:8 “ 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. ----- as a believer in Jesus Christ you are to expose your life – your thinking – your values and all that you are to the light of the Word of God. Your relationships are to be under the light of the Word of God --- that is why we have been taking the Peacemakers training on Tuesdays….. Your marriage must be under the light of the Word of God – that is why we have the seminar Love and Respect. Your dating must be under the light of the Word of God – the movies that you watch and the books that you read must be under the light of the Word of God. How you are going to vote this Tuesday must be under the light of the Word of God and not your political party…….Your sexuality must be under the light of the Word of God….. Your work must be under the light of the Word of God. Your money and your possessions must be under the light of the Word of God.
All that you are and think must be under the light of the Word of God. Paul says – “for you were once darkness but now your are light in the Lord – live as a child of the light and find out what pleases the Lord.” If the bible tells us that we must find out what pleases God then we have to assume that we do not know. We do not hear much about pleasing the Lord today. Most of us are only concerned with pleasing ourselves ---- that is like everyone around us and we do not concern ourselves with bringing all of the areas of our lives under the light of the Word of God – we are worldly. Jerry Bridges says in his book “Respectable Sins” Worldliness means accepting the values, mores, and practices of our nice unbelieving society around us without discerning whether or not those values are biblical.”…..
I went to the trouble of typing out for you some words about wordliness from C.J. Mahaney – it is in your program. We must become a people who live as a child of the light and find out what pleases the Lord.
Psalm 135:5- 6 “I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” So God is not all that concerned with pleasing His creation – He is focused on pleasing Himself….. He is hedonistic. Proverbs 15:8 “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases Him.” Prayer pleases God. The prayer of a believer who is in right standing with Him pleases Him. God is pleased when His children talk to Him……….. John 8:28 - 29 (Jesus) “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”…. Jesus sought to please the Father during His 33 years on this earth and He always fully pleased the Father while being fully a man. If we pursue being like Christ then we must pursue pleasing God…… Listen kids to this one from Eph 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” It is pleasing to God to obey your parents. It is pleasing to God to not give your dad and mom a hard time. If you have a hard time obeying your mom and dad just think of your disobedience as displeasing to God. 1 Timothy 2:3 says that when we pray for our political leaders it pleases God and 1 John 3:21 says “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son – Jesus Christ and to love one another.”…….. It pleases God when you believe in Jesus. It pleases God when that belief in Jesus causes you to love one another. It pleases God when your belief in Jesus causes your life to change and begin to reflect godliness.
We are talking about stewardship – managing the money and possessions that God has given to us. We either want to please God with our money and possessions or we are only concerned with pleasing ourselves. We are in the state that we are in as a country because the majority of us are only concerned with pleasing our selves when it comes to money and what we do with that money. Some of us are deep deep in debt. Some of us are even considering bankruptcy as a way out and some of us have no idea how to get a handle on our money so that it does not control us. This past week – is the first time in 13 years that I have had someone meet with me for help in managing their money. Pleasing God has got to become an issue in our lives especially when it comes to money. Most believers are ashamed of how they have managed money and many simply do not want to change. I am talking about money – this is our third message on money – we have a second testimony today --- please do not get up and walk out on me and I am sorry if you feel like I am stepping on your toes – my heart is to encourage you and to help you and to challenge you to repent and to glorify God by the way you use and manage the money He gives you. Jesus gives us these sobering words in (TOP OF YOUR OUTLINE) Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Everyone of us have been given much because we live in this country………..If you and I learn to please God in our giving…. I guarantee you that you will experience more joy in God. Do you want more joy in God? So – today I want to give you 10 ways to give that pleases God. We are talking about joyful giving. Last week we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8 – today we are reading chapter 9. I am going to use last weeks chapter and this weeks chapter since they both go together. PHIL .
Ten Ways to Give That Pleases God
1. God is pleased when you give even though you are overwhelmed with your problems. Last week we read about the believers in Macedonia 2 Cor. 8:1 – 2 “Now, brothers, about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” These believers were persecuted – robbed – imprisoned and beaten for their faith. Most of them had been layed off from work and had their homes foreclosed on. Do you only give when you have no problems? Do you only give when you have paid all the bills? Do you give only when you have work? Some of you are overwhelmed with expenses and problems. I have known what that feels like….. In June – because of our grandsons death -- the extra expenses in our life went over $3000.00. Some of it was paid for by others but I still thought to myself – “how in the world are we going to pay for these things and when it came to giving to God in June - I actually thought of not doing that ----- but by God’s grace we gave. Give – even when your problems overwhelm you.
2. God is pleased when you give and you are in poverty. Poverty is relative in the United States because even those who receive disability and social security checks are rich compared to the rest of the world.
Turn to the gospel of Mark chap 12:41………. Jesus is teaching in the Jewish Temple courts at this time and people are bringing their giving to the temple. Follow along with me: “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” What this woman did is recorded in the bible for some reason……. God’s Word teaches us that no matter how difficult our financial situation is we can still give something to God. Some of us live paycheck to paycheck but there is no one in here who goes down to the Carson River with a 5 gal drum to get water and there is no one in here who uses a hoe and goes out in a field to use the bathroom. God is pleased when you give and you are in poverty.
3. God is pleased when you give beyond your ability. Verse 3 of chapter 8. “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” These believers gave what they could afford and what they could not afford. These believers trusted God and He did not let them down. Determine what you should give to God and you will find yourself giving beyond your ability to give. You can never say you can’t give because you are not able to. If you not able to give then you can give. God gave the Macedonian believers that ability and He will not stop doing that with you.
4. God is pleased when you give generously. Verse 2 of chapter 8 “out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” When Paul wrote this for some reason he used the words joy and generosity. God is pleased when we give generous amounts with generous hearts. Notice that the amount goes with the condition of the heart. It is possible to give and not have a generous heart. Your gift may be small compared to someone else’s gift but if your heart is generous --- God is pleased. God is not pleased when we give from stingy hearts ---- A man prayed once --- “God, you can have anything you can pry out of my hands”. You laugh at that but some have said it. Think about it:
Everything you have came from God and belongs to God – simple gratitude should motive you to give as much money to God’s work as you can. Do not stop at 10% ----10% is not this legalistic spiritual mark that you have achieved and when you have achieved it you have arrived spiritually. Do not stop at giving an offering which is giving above 10%. Learn to give sacrificially. Dr Mark Dever has said that as American believers we cannot say we give sacrificially until we have given to the point where the gift has lowered our net worth. I have to say that in my Christian life -- My wife and I give generously but we have only given sacrificially one time --- if I use Pastor Dever’s definition. If that confuses you please do not hesitate to ask me to expand on it.
5. God is pleased when we give eagerly. Verse 4 of chap. 8. “they pleaded with us for the privilege in this service to the saints.” We do not know exactly what was going on here – Paul and Titus may have seen how poor these believers were and the believers found out about the need and the were eager to give. This example tells us that God is pleased when His people have an attitude of an eagerness to give. That means they did not feel obligated – or pressured or guilt driven. An eagerness to give means that you plan to give. It means that you think about and pray about your giving before the opportunity to give --- it is not an impulse thing. I am pleased to say that in the past 13 years I can think of a few people who have asked me how they could give to a need. It happened just this past week. God is pleased when our giving is from an eagerness.
6. God is pleased when we give cheerfully. Chp 9:7 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Is there a joy in your heart when it comes to giving on Sunday? Do you resent having a bag passed around and or do you feel guilty for not putting in something? This verse was driven home in my thinking in 1979 when I was in Zululand and at a Zulu church service and it came time for the offering --- everyone stood up and everyone had some money in their hand and they were waving it back and forth – smiling and laughing and we all sang and two steeped in a line up to the front and put our giving in the offering plate. They demonstrated outwardly what Paul is talking about pleases God inwardly. If there is joy in your heart when it comes time to give to God – God is pleased. ---- so if there is no joy then you are off the hook when it comes to giving????? That is not biblical thinking…….. give and ask God for joy.
7. God is pleased when you give yourself to Him and to your spiritual leaders along with your money.
I know of believers who give… but they want nothing to do with submitting to the spiritual leadership of a local church family. They miss grace giving. They miss joyful giving. Their giving is not pleasing to God……… 2 Cor 8:5 “And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” Paul clearly lays out that giving oneself to God and then to spiritual leaders is God’s will. You can give and be out of God’s will. You either support your spiritual leaders or you do not. These believers that Paul is writing about were not devoted to a doctrine or a certain issue that they had as a hobby horse and that was the only reason they gave but they were first and foremost devoted to God. They loved Him – obeyed Him and served Him and they were devoted to their spiritual leaders – they loved them – respected them and served them. When you are devoted to God and devoted to your spiritual leaders along with your money that pleases God.
8. God is pleased when you accept your personal responsibility to give. In 1 Cor. 16:1-2 Paul laid for the church this principle. “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of the week (Sunday) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income as I directed the churches in Galatia, so do you also.” What does these two verses tell you? Every believer in a local church is to give. “each one of you” is pretty clear. Everybody is to participate in the support of their church family. It does not matter what your situation is --- God expects you to support your church family. COMMENT…. It pleases God when you accept your responsibility. Take out of your program an insert that I put in there – Accepting the 10% challenge. I want to help you be responsible. I want to help you please God. Let me read this for you………..
Take out insert and read it……… God is pleased when you accept your personal responsibility to give.
9. God is pleased when you carefully plan your giving. 1 Cor 16:2 “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” Paul was teaching the church to plan ahead. He was teaching the church financial planning. He was teaching the church to plan ones giving. Planned giving involves choosing a time to give. You are going to give every pay period – every week – every two weeks or once a month. Planned giving involves choosing a form of giving. You are going to give cash or check – when you give you are going to put it in an envelope with your name on it so that at the end of the year a record can be sent back to you so you can see how your giving was.
Planned giving involves choosing a place to give – for the believer the #1 place is their local church family – the book of Malachi tells us that.
A good steward carefully plans how he should invest His masters money in his masters best interest. When extra giving opportunities come to our family – Cheryl and I discuss them and we choose very carefully where we give. We have had many giving opportunities come to us as a church family over the past years but we have chosen very carefully where we invest God’s money. God is pleased when you carefully plan your giving.
10. God is pleased when you base your giving on the level of your prosperity. 16:2 “On the first day of the week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper.” The apostle Paul lays out giving here for the believer. We are to give to God based on the level of our financial prosperity. The more you make the more you give to God. The more prosperous God makes you the more you invest in His kingdom. Some of us do not consider ourselves prosperous – you are. You live in this country. My wife and I have learned to give 20% of our income back to God. That is this year – I want to see it increase next year. Do you remember the promise from the first message Luke 6 “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Cheryl and I have seen and experienced the truth of this promise --- we just want to increase our measuring cup.
I want you to hear how others are dealing with the issue of giving in their lives and Andy Getas is going to give us his testimony.
Andy testimony
Let us pray: Heavenly Father – I pray for your people that they would become pleasers of You. Help them not to forget to share with others, for with such sacrifices You are pleased. Would you work in them that which is pleasing to You. Would you help them to become generous givers. Help them to become pleasing stewards of the money and possessions that You have given to them. Father – may we walk in the light of the Word of God with our finances. Show us where our attitudes need to be changed. Show us where our financial habits need repenting. Lord – may we become a church family of generous givers. We ask in Jesus name --- Amen
Joyful Giving #2
Joyful Giving
Stewardship #2
October 26th 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Take your bibles and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Last week I began a new series on stewardship. I am calling it joyful giving. We are going to talk about money – using money and giving money. Please do not get up and walk out on me. You need to hear these words from God. People are worried about money. It’s interesting to look at some of the articles on MSN Money. “Five things its cheaper to do yourself.” “Sorry baby boomers so much for retirement” and “tell us if you are drowning in debt.” SLIDE I am even getting emails from American Express and this one caught my eye. You do not have to pay your debts you can walk away from them.”
The bible says in 1 Timothy 5:8 “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”…. Regardless of what you might think or hear or believe – biblically – it is not the government’s responsibility to provide for you. That is not biblical thinking. If you have graduated from high school or college – it is not your parents responsibility to provide for you and put a roof over your head… How we use our money for ourselves – how we use our money to bless others and especially for God’s sake is a spiritual issue.
2 Cor 5:10 says “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”…..You and I are going to be judged by God for how we use our money and our possessions here on this earth. What kind of a steward are you? Your pastor and leaders are going to be judged by God for how we use this churches money. In another light --- do you know that we mock and laugh at those among us who are penny pinchers and frugal and those who are spenders and wasteful, we say nothing……… When Paul says – every believer is going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ and that each believer will receive what is due him for the things done in the body, good or bad --- that is either true or not.
Why is a biblical use of our money and resources so crucial to our growth in godliness? We invest most of our days working in exchange for money – making it –thinking about it and worrying about it and spending it or using it. But we do not take managing money all that serious ---- if we mess up ---- we now believe that somebody is going to bail us out. We can always file bankruptcy or the government will take care of us and bail us out. That is a thinking that permeates our society and the church of Jesus Christ….. In a sense, money is that which represents who we are – it represents what are our priorities and what’s in our hearts. As we use our money and resources – we prove our growth in Christ.
The use of your money and how you give it away is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Jesus Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness… If you are learning to love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect joyful giving. If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else,….. your giving will show that. Look at this quote (SLIDE) “We will do many things before we will give someone else, even Christ, the rights over every dollar we have and ever will have. But if you are learning to do that it will be expressed in your giving.” --- Donald Whitney
Last week we studied joyful giving. Today I want us to examine grace giving as Paul teaches it in 2 Corinthians 8. Paul uses the word charis or grace – 10 times in chapter 8 -9. It is God’s grace that plays a vital role in our lives in faithful financial stewardship. Please stand with me as we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8. PHIL BRADY . I want to draw 6 principles of grace giving for you from chapter 8 - 9 . Keep your bible open to these two chapters.
Biblical Principles of Grace Giving
1. Grace giving is the result of God’s gracious creation of generosity in the heart of the believer.
2 Corinthians. 8:1 “Now, brethren, we wish to make know to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia.” Both chapter 8 and 9 begin and end with a reference to God’s grace. In chapter 9 Paul brings this up close by saying that generosity comes from the work of God’s grace in the life of a believer. Look at chapter 9:14 “While they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.” ………It was the grace of God in the Macedonian believers that enabled them and empowered them to give. Bible Scholar and laymen Jerry Bridges writes, “What was the secret of such an outpouring of generosity? We have no reason to believe that these believers were more inclined to be generous in giving to the needs of others. In the United States, one of the most affluent nations, believers give 1 – 2% of their income. The apostle Paul says that the Macedonian believers gave generously because of the grace of God – it was the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers.” How can you give when you do not have enough as it is? How can a believer become a giver – the same way a believer forgives. The same way a believer witnesses to someone else. The same way a believer loves others. The same way a believer serves and uses his or her spiritual gifts – a believer becomes a giver by the grace that God gives them. God uses and blesses the believer who relies on and turns to Him to give. Paul put it this way:
1 Corinthians 15: 9 – 11 “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, (do you feel that way about yourself?) and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Notice what is underlined ……Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.” Sadly ---- “If you do not think you can become a giver then you do not believe in the grace of God for any other area of your life.” It is the grace of God that makes your heart generous. Ask God to do that in you. Ask Him to start and increase your giving. 2nd principle
2. Grace giving looks at participation in the needs of other believers as a privilege. Look what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:4 “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” The Greek word the NIV translates as privilege is the word grace. So, the Christians in Madedonia did not resent being asked to give to believers in Jerusalem. They pleaded for the opportunity and they considered it a privilege. When there is an opportunity to give ---- grace giving provokes you to get involved. You either gave to the projector project out of obligation or your gave out of grace giving or you did not give at all. When there is a need that I know about as the pastor I ought to be able to tell you all and if you are exercising grace giving you will be able to give. Let’s make this practical. So Phil and Stacie --- if what Paul is writing here is true --- it is a privilege that everyone in this church family has to help support you in missions. Making personal: Cheryl and I consider it an opportunity that we cannot pass up so we have written to Compassion International in August to ask them to find someone else to support our Ethopian girl who we have supported for 8 years and we are going to transfer that support to privately support your mission as well as continue our giving through Silver Hills. Grace giving is a privilege.
3. Grace giving views a collection for the needs of others as a work that is gracious in nature.
Look at the three verses on your outline: (vs. 6 -7) “So we urged Titus, since he earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” And then go down to verse 19 “What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we
administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.” By its very nature ---- giving to others who are involved in the work of the Lord is gracious in nature. Every week I ought to challenge you to give more and more ---- Paul commands it – he says “see to it that you excel in giving.” See to it that you excel in faith – see to it that you excel in your speech, see to it that you excel in your knowledge of God and see to it that you excel in your love for others in the family of God…. Look at verse 6 --- Pastor Titus started to urge the believers to give and Paul says to them that it was he who urged Titus to challenge the people to keep on giving and complete their giving to the believers needs in Jerusalem. Titus must have been hesitant to preach about this…… but Paul says --- no ---- complete this Titus and then if you look in verse 20 --- Paul says that he wants to avoid any criticism or judgment about what happens with the money that was given and he is going to take great pains in doing what is right in the eyes of God and man. Comments: --- Because of this biblical example of Paul this is why we have two people count our giving and record it, someone else to deposit it, someone else to keep a running monthly record and someone else to do bookkeeping and our records are open to everyone. Verse 21 says “we take great pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.” Hold up report
4TH Principle………
4. Grace giving is inspired by the example of Christ’s gracious nature expressed in His becoming poor so that undeserving sinners might become rich.
(vs. 9) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Grace is a personal quality of Jesus Christ. During his lifetime on this earth He reflected grace – He demonstrated grace and by the very fact that He gave up His life – He gave up His rights to those that God sent Him to save…… He became spiritually poor ---- God turned His face away from His Son when He hung on the cross.
The very body of Christ became a cup that the sins of God’s children were poured into and God turned His face away from His Son - for that moment until Christ said ---“it is finished”. His children were no longer spiritually bankrupt – because of the grace giving of Jesus Christ they became spiritually rich.
Grace giving is inspired in the life of the believer because that believer knows they are spiritually rich. Paul put it this way to the believers at Ephesus.
Ephesians 2:4 - 7 “But because of is great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Because of God’s great love for you and God’s great mercy shown to you --- grace giving is produced in your life.
5. Grace giving includes the use of natural means to encourage believers to give as they should. Most pastors think of this as simply keeping quiet about giving. Many have thought and said – “Giving is something that is private and should never be talked about out in the open --- that’s false thinking, it is not biblical thinking.
If you look in chapter 8 of 2 Cor. Vs 16 Paul says, “I thank God, who put it into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.” Apparently God worked directly in Titus’s heart – but that is not God’s normal means of working. He most of the time uses natural means – the Corinthian believers became joyful givers because of the exhortation and encouragement of Paul. If you go over to Romans 15:26 You can see that believers responded and gave “for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.” Look with me in the text this morning how God works to encourage us to in grace giving.
* Personal example – 2 Corinthians 8:1 -2 “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God gave the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” God uses the personal example and testimony of believers in a church body. Let us hear one of those testimonies in our body… Carol Williams testimony
* Direct exhortation - vs 7 “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Paul is commanding the believers to give – you can almost feel him raising his hand and pointing his finger – “See to it” Look on your outline at what a pastor is told to speak to God’s people in a church.
1 Timothy 6:17 -19 17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and ready to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” ------ how many times does Paul use the word command?? Circle the two times on your outline. So – when a pastor commands you to give – he is only obeying God’s Word. Look at verse 19 – underlined it. What is the result of grace giving in the life of a believer? They lay up treasure for themselves in heaven for the coming age and they take hold of the life that is truly life --- when do they take hold of it? Now ---- when you become a grace giver you take hold of the fullness of eternal life now. So --- if I am hearing what God is saying here --- SLIDE “grace giving and the abundant Christian life go together.”
I have no problem telling you to give. I not only am telling you to give, I command you to give. Let me promise you this: I will help you and advise you with your finances and when you begin to give and you cannot make it to the next paycheck, I will make certain the church gives you the money back that you gave. Paul says God encourages us to give by 1. Personal example 2. Direct exhortation and
* Personal leadership – my wife and I do not tithe. We do not give back to God 10%. We have been married for 28 years and believers in Jesus Christ for over 30. We should be able to believe God for more than what He expects and the standard that He gives. We started out in our marriage at the standard of 10% - but over the years our faith and trust in God has grown to where we give between 20 – 25% of our income. Grace giving starts at a tithe and goes beyond it. My wife and I practice what I am preaching to you. I know that what the bible teaches is real. I would not lead you astray. I have lived it and continue to live it. Believe me….. God can be trusted.
I remember in college going to a CCC Christmas event as 19 year old and a 1 year baby Christian and being challenge to give a pledge to support African ministers. I wrote down $120 on the card. We were in Washington DC and I had $40 to eat on for the 4 day conference. When the offering box came around – I put the card and $20 bucks in the box. I promised to trust God for the money in the next 3 months. I did not – but I remember how hard it was to eat on $20 for 4 days –and I will always remember being challenged to give and my feeble attempts at obeying and trusting God. Grace giving starts at some point.
6. Grace giving is rewarded by God’s gracious provision of abundant resources for the faithful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” When God chooses to meet the believers needs with more than they have given - that reward is undeserved. He is not obligated to bless the believer. But He does and when He does that is His grace. Jerry Bridges puts this way:
“This is the amazing story of God’s grace. God saves us by His grace and transforms us more and more into the likeness of His Son by His grace. In all our trails and afflictions, He sustains and strengthens us by His grace. He calls us by grace to perform our own unique function within the body of Christ. Then by grace, He gives to each of us the spiritual gifts necessary to fulfill our calling. As we serve Him, He makes that service acceptable to Himself by grace, and then He rewards us a hundred – fold by grace.”
Let us pray: Lord Jesus – I pray that You will strengthen the faith of Your children and extinguish all of Satan’s flaming missiles of fear and covetousness. Enable Your children to be strong in You, and in the strength of Your might. Do not lead them into temptation but deliver them from the evil one. Let them sense Your pleasure with them. And strengthen them with the joy that comes from grace giving. I ask that You would glorify Yourself by keeping Your promises to bless them for their faithful giving. You said in Your Word that if we give generously and sacrificially, You will give us all the money we need, as well as extra money to give away. I claim that promise for the flock you have entrusted to my care. Give them pay raises – give them jobs – keep their cars running – keep their appliances from breaking down – surpize them with unexpected gifts – open their eyes to Your provision in their lives. Surround my people like the mountains surround Jerusalem to protect them from temptation and to give to them all your good gifts. When you answer these prayers, I will give you all the credit. In Jesus name -- Amen
Stewardship #2
October 26th 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Take your bibles and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Last week I began a new series on stewardship. I am calling it joyful giving. We are going to talk about money – using money and giving money. Please do not get up and walk out on me. You need to hear these words from God. People are worried about money. It’s interesting to look at some of the articles on MSN Money. “Five things its cheaper to do yourself.” “Sorry baby boomers so much for retirement” and “tell us if you are drowning in debt.” SLIDE I am even getting emails from American Express and this one caught my eye. You do not have to pay your debts you can walk away from them.”
The bible says in 1 Timothy 5:8 “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”…. Regardless of what you might think or hear or believe – biblically – it is not the government’s responsibility to provide for you. That is not biblical thinking. If you have graduated from high school or college – it is not your parents responsibility to provide for you and put a roof over your head… How we use our money for ourselves – how we use our money to bless others and especially for God’s sake is a spiritual issue.
2 Cor 5:10 says “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”…..You and I are going to be judged by God for how we use our money and our possessions here on this earth. What kind of a steward are you? Your pastor and leaders are going to be judged by God for how we use this churches money. In another light --- do you know that we mock and laugh at those among us who are penny pinchers and frugal and those who are spenders and wasteful, we say nothing……… When Paul says – every believer is going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ and that each believer will receive what is due him for the things done in the body, good or bad --- that is either true or not.
Why is a biblical use of our money and resources so crucial to our growth in godliness? We invest most of our days working in exchange for money – making it –thinking about it and worrying about it and spending it or using it. But we do not take managing money all that serious ---- if we mess up ---- we now believe that somebody is going to bail us out. We can always file bankruptcy or the government will take care of us and bail us out. That is a thinking that permeates our society and the church of Jesus Christ….. In a sense, money is that which represents who we are – it represents what are our priorities and what’s in our hearts. As we use our money and resources – we prove our growth in Christ.
The use of your money and how you give it away is one of the best ways of evaluating your relationship with Jesus Christ and your spiritual trustworthiness… If you are learning to love Christ with all your heart, your giving will reflect joyful giving. If you love Christ and the work of His Kingdom more than anything else,….. your giving will show that. Look at this quote (SLIDE) “We will do many things before we will give someone else, even Christ, the rights over every dollar we have and ever will have. But if you are learning to do that it will be expressed in your giving.” --- Donald Whitney
Last week we studied joyful giving. Today I want us to examine grace giving as Paul teaches it in 2 Corinthians 8. Paul uses the word charis or grace – 10 times in chapter 8 -9. It is God’s grace that plays a vital role in our lives in faithful financial stewardship. Please stand with me as we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8. PHIL BRADY . I want to draw 6 principles of grace giving for you from chapter 8 - 9 . Keep your bible open to these two chapters.
Biblical Principles of Grace Giving
1. Grace giving is the result of God’s gracious creation of generosity in the heart of the believer.
2 Corinthians. 8:1 “Now, brethren, we wish to make know to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia.” Both chapter 8 and 9 begin and end with a reference to God’s grace. In chapter 9 Paul brings this up close by saying that generosity comes from the work of God’s grace in the life of a believer. Look at chapter 9:14 “While they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.” ………It was the grace of God in the Macedonian believers that enabled them and empowered them to give. Bible Scholar and laymen Jerry Bridges writes, “What was the secret of such an outpouring of generosity? We have no reason to believe that these believers were more inclined to be generous in giving to the needs of others. In the United States, one of the most affluent nations, believers give 1 – 2% of their income. The apostle Paul says that the Macedonian believers gave generously because of the grace of God – it was the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers.” How can you give when you do not have enough as it is? How can a believer become a giver – the same way a believer forgives. The same way a believer witnesses to someone else. The same way a believer loves others. The same way a believer serves and uses his or her spiritual gifts – a believer becomes a giver by the grace that God gives them. God uses and blesses the believer who relies on and turns to Him to give. Paul put it this way:
1 Corinthians 15: 9 – 11 “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, (do you feel that way about yourself?) and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Notice what is underlined ……Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.” Sadly ---- “If you do not think you can become a giver then you do not believe in the grace of God for any other area of your life.” It is the grace of God that makes your heart generous. Ask God to do that in you. Ask Him to start and increase your giving. 2nd principle
2. Grace giving looks at participation in the needs of other believers as a privilege. Look what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:4 “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” The Greek word the NIV translates as privilege is the word grace. So, the Christians in Madedonia did not resent being asked to give to believers in Jerusalem. They pleaded for the opportunity and they considered it a privilege. When there is an opportunity to give ---- grace giving provokes you to get involved. You either gave to the projector project out of obligation or your gave out of grace giving or you did not give at all. When there is a need that I know about as the pastor I ought to be able to tell you all and if you are exercising grace giving you will be able to give. Let’s make this practical. So Phil and Stacie --- if what Paul is writing here is true --- it is a privilege that everyone in this church family has to help support you in missions. Making personal: Cheryl and I consider it an opportunity that we cannot pass up so we have written to Compassion International in August to ask them to find someone else to support our Ethopian girl who we have supported for 8 years and we are going to transfer that support to privately support your mission as well as continue our giving through Silver Hills. Grace giving is a privilege.
3. Grace giving views a collection for the needs of others as a work that is gracious in nature.
Look at the three verses on your outline: (vs. 6 -7) “So we urged Titus, since he earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” And then go down to verse 19 “What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we
administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.” By its very nature ---- giving to others who are involved in the work of the Lord is gracious in nature. Every week I ought to challenge you to give more and more ---- Paul commands it – he says “see to it that you excel in giving.” See to it that you excel in faith – see to it that you excel in your speech, see to it that you excel in your knowledge of God and see to it that you excel in your love for others in the family of God…. Look at verse 6 --- Pastor Titus started to urge the believers to give and Paul says to them that it was he who urged Titus to challenge the people to keep on giving and complete their giving to the believers needs in Jerusalem. Titus must have been hesitant to preach about this…… but Paul says --- no ---- complete this Titus and then if you look in verse 20 --- Paul says that he wants to avoid any criticism or judgment about what happens with the money that was given and he is going to take great pains in doing what is right in the eyes of God and man. Comments: --- Because of this biblical example of Paul this is why we have two people count our giving and record it, someone else to deposit it, someone else to keep a running monthly record and someone else to do bookkeeping and our records are open to everyone. Verse 21 says “we take great pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.” Hold up report
4TH Principle………
4. Grace giving is inspired by the example of Christ’s gracious nature expressed in His becoming poor so that undeserving sinners might become rich.
(vs. 9) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Grace is a personal quality of Jesus Christ. During his lifetime on this earth He reflected grace – He demonstrated grace and by the very fact that He gave up His life – He gave up His rights to those that God sent Him to save…… He became spiritually poor ---- God turned His face away from His Son when He hung on the cross.
The very body of Christ became a cup that the sins of God’s children were poured into and God turned His face away from His Son - for that moment until Christ said ---“it is finished”. His children were no longer spiritually bankrupt – because of the grace giving of Jesus Christ they became spiritually rich.
Grace giving is inspired in the life of the believer because that believer knows they are spiritually rich. Paul put it this way to the believers at Ephesus.
Ephesians 2:4 - 7 “But because of is great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Because of God’s great love for you and God’s great mercy shown to you --- grace giving is produced in your life.
5. Grace giving includes the use of natural means to encourage believers to give as they should. Most pastors think of this as simply keeping quiet about giving. Many have thought and said – “Giving is something that is private and should never be talked about out in the open --- that’s false thinking, it is not biblical thinking.
If you look in chapter 8 of 2 Cor. Vs 16 Paul says, “I thank God, who put it into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.” Apparently God worked directly in Titus’s heart – but that is not God’s normal means of working. He most of the time uses natural means – the Corinthian believers became joyful givers because of the exhortation and encouragement of Paul. If you go over to Romans 15:26 You can see that believers responded and gave “for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.” Look with me in the text this morning how God works to encourage us to in grace giving.
* Personal example – 2 Corinthians 8:1 -2 “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God gave the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” God uses the personal example and testimony of believers in a church body. Let us hear one of those testimonies in our body… Carol Williams testimony
* Direct exhortation - vs 7 “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Paul is commanding the believers to give – you can almost feel him raising his hand and pointing his finger – “See to it” Look on your outline at what a pastor is told to speak to God’s people in a church.
1 Timothy 6:17 -19 17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and ready to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” ------ how many times does Paul use the word command?? Circle the two times on your outline. So – when a pastor commands you to give – he is only obeying God’s Word. Look at verse 19 – underlined it. What is the result of grace giving in the life of a believer? They lay up treasure for themselves in heaven for the coming age and they take hold of the life that is truly life --- when do they take hold of it? Now ---- when you become a grace giver you take hold of the fullness of eternal life now. So --- if I am hearing what God is saying here --- SLIDE “grace giving and the abundant Christian life go together.”
I have no problem telling you to give. I not only am telling you to give, I command you to give. Let me promise you this: I will help you and advise you with your finances and when you begin to give and you cannot make it to the next paycheck, I will make certain the church gives you the money back that you gave. Paul says God encourages us to give by 1. Personal example 2. Direct exhortation and
* Personal leadership – my wife and I do not tithe. We do not give back to God 10%. We have been married for 28 years and believers in Jesus Christ for over 30. We should be able to believe God for more than what He expects and the standard that He gives. We started out in our marriage at the standard of 10% - but over the years our faith and trust in God has grown to where we give between 20 – 25% of our income. Grace giving starts at a tithe and goes beyond it. My wife and I practice what I am preaching to you. I know that what the bible teaches is real. I would not lead you astray. I have lived it and continue to live it. Believe me….. God can be trusted.
I remember in college going to a CCC Christmas event as 19 year old and a 1 year baby Christian and being challenge to give a pledge to support African ministers. I wrote down $120 on the card. We were in Washington DC and I had $40 to eat on for the 4 day conference. When the offering box came around – I put the card and $20 bucks in the box. I promised to trust God for the money in the next 3 months. I did not – but I remember how hard it was to eat on $20 for 4 days –and I will always remember being challenged to give and my feeble attempts at obeying and trusting God. Grace giving starts at some point.
6. Grace giving is rewarded by God’s gracious provision of abundant resources for the faithful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” When God chooses to meet the believers needs with more than they have given - that reward is undeserved. He is not obligated to bless the believer. But He does and when He does that is His grace. Jerry Bridges puts this way:
“This is the amazing story of God’s grace. God saves us by His grace and transforms us more and more into the likeness of His Son by His grace. In all our trails and afflictions, He sustains and strengthens us by His grace. He calls us by grace to perform our own unique function within the body of Christ. Then by grace, He gives to each of us the spiritual gifts necessary to fulfill our calling. As we serve Him, He makes that service acceptable to Himself by grace, and then He rewards us a hundred – fold by grace.”
Let us pray: Lord Jesus – I pray that You will strengthen the faith of Your children and extinguish all of Satan’s flaming missiles of fear and covetousness. Enable Your children to be strong in You, and in the strength of Your might. Do not lead them into temptation but deliver them from the evil one. Let them sense Your pleasure with them. And strengthen them with the joy that comes from grace giving. I ask that You would glorify Yourself by keeping Your promises to bless them for their faithful giving. You said in Your Word that if we give generously and sacrificially, You will give us all the money we need, as well as extra money to give away. I claim that promise for the flock you have entrusted to my care. Give them pay raises – give them jobs – keep their cars running – keep their appliances from breaking down – surpize them with unexpected gifts – open their eyes to Your provision in their lives. Surround my people like the mountains surround Jerusalem to protect them from temptation and to give to them all your good gifts. When you answer these prayers, I will give you all the credit. In Jesus name -- Amen
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Spectacular Sins
John Piper writes, "My aim in this book is to show that sin and evil, no matter how spectacular, never nullify the decisive, Christ-exalting purposes of God. Spectacular sins and evil do not just fail to nullify God's purpose to glorify Christ, they succeed, by God's unfathomable providence, in making His gracious purpose come to pass."I highly recommed this book. It is easy reading, filled full of scripture to give you the right view of the God of the Bible in His soverignty over sin and evil in this world. When you rightly know God you will be victorious through any sin and evil that comes your way. --- Pastor Ben
Pastor Appreciation Message
Given by Danny Fierro at the Men's Retreat
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:1-4
When you think about a lineage or heritage it is typically in reference to the family. Whatever your family tree is, that is what your heritage essentially is. In business this same concept does not transfer over well primarily because business changes, economies change, the way we do things essentially is always changing.
There is however, one profession that can be linked to a heritage. While method often changes, the message has never, and will never change. The profession of the pastor.
We start this evening with Matthew 10:1-4 primarily as a reflection point for all of us. What Jesus has done in this passage is he has established a heritage, by which every believer in the gospel will be reached for the rest of eternity. The Apostle John wrote these words in chapter 17 of his gospel:
6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ..18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:6, 18-20
It is in the heritage of the apostolic office that the pastorate is established. The message of the gospel first preached by these men is the same gospel that God calls all pastors to teach today.
The message of salvation comes with a great price to the shepherds of God’s flock. Let’s look at the experience of the apostle Paul to this lofty calling.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23b-28
It is a wonder that anyone would want such a calling, in fact the apostle James discouraged his audience of scattered believers to not become teachers because of the great strictness with which they would be judged. While the American pastor does not typically have to endure flogging, stoning, shipwreck or starvation, He does often receive verbal flogging, stoning of character, shipwreck of relationships, and starvation of community and prayer from his people.
The pastor should have no lofty expectations from the world, in fact, his expectation should b that he will be seen as a fool. But from God’s people there should be no position in life held with greater esteem, appreciation, and love. The Bible very clearly gives the believer a command to honor the shepherd.
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13b
It is in the spirit of this passage of scripture that I put before you our pastor Ben Fleming. The scriptures command us to hold him in high regard in love because of his work.
How can we show our pastor encouragement, appreciation, and love? I think this weekend is a good starting point, as we tackle the topic of community and growing together as a body. Does he want another card, a gift card, a you’re the greatest pastor in the world t-shirt? I know he would appreciate them all, but here is what your pastor really wants. At the heart of every pastor if you can do these two things he will feel appreciated.
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4
First, your pastor will feel he is appreciated when he sees God’s people coming together in prayer. He wants your prayers for God’s people and he wants your prayers for himself. He needs your prayers. The pastor receives flaming arrows in his life just like you do, and how many times have you come to him, pray for me pastor, pray for me. But he also needs your prayers. And not only that, nothing will bring joy to the pastor than to see the sheep of his fold meeting together in corporate prayer which really is a lead in to the second point
First lets look at Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Also let’s look at 3 John 1:3-4
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
If God’s people really want to show appreciation to their pastor, If we want to show appreciation to Ben, walk in the truth, imitate his life of faith. There is no greater joy for the pastor than to see that what he is teaching from God’s word is fruitful and active and changing the lives of the people he shepherds to the glory of God. On the converse side there is no greater destruction to the joy of a pastor when his people continue in indifference towards sin and are void of community and any evidence of Christian growth.
In this setting I am preaching to the choir. You men are here because you value community and you value growth. But if I can offer you any encouragement in the Lord for how to show appreciation for our pastor, pray for him, pray with him, and pray with others as he calls you to do so. Model the Christian life in season and out of season, by this I mean in your church life and in your private life, but above all as we lead a changing culture of community within our church, teach this message to others.
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:1-4
When you think about a lineage or heritage it is typically in reference to the family. Whatever your family tree is, that is what your heritage essentially is. In business this same concept does not transfer over well primarily because business changes, economies change, the way we do things essentially is always changing.
There is however, one profession that can be linked to a heritage. While method often changes, the message has never, and will never change. The profession of the pastor.
We start this evening with Matthew 10:1-4 primarily as a reflection point for all of us. What Jesus has done in this passage is he has established a heritage, by which every believer in the gospel will be reached for the rest of eternity. The Apostle John wrote these words in chapter 17 of his gospel:
6"I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ..18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:6, 18-20
It is in the heritage of the apostolic office that the pastorate is established. The message of the gospel first preached by these men is the same gospel that God calls all pastors to teach today.
The message of salvation comes with a great price to the shepherds of God’s flock. Let’s look at the experience of the apostle Paul to this lofty calling.
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:23b-28
It is a wonder that anyone would want such a calling, in fact the apostle James discouraged his audience of scattered believers to not become teachers because of the great strictness with which they would be judged. While the American pastor does not typically have to endure flogging, stoning, shipwreck or starvation, He does often receive verbal flogging, stoning of character, shipwreck of relationships, and starvation of community and prayer from his people.
The pastor should have no lofty expectations from the world, in fact, his expectation should b that he will be seen as a fool. But from God’s people there should be no position in life held with greater esteem, appreciation, and love. The Bible very clearly gives the believer a command to honor the shepherd.
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13b
It is in the spirit of this passage of scripture that I put before you our pastor Ben Fleming. The scriptures command us to hold him in high regard in love because of his work.
How can we show our pastor encouragement, appreciation, and love? I think this weekend is a good starting point, as we tackle the topic of community and growing together as a body. Does he want another card, a gift card, a you’re the greatest pastor in the world t-shirt? I know he would appreciate them all, but here is what your pastor really wants. At the heart of every pastor if you can do these two things he will feel appreciated.
2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:2-4
First, your pastor will feel he is appreciated when he sees God’s people coming together in prayer. He wants your prayers for God’s people and he wants your prayers for himself. He needs your prayers. The pastor receives flaming arrows in his life just like you do, and how many times have you come to him, pray for me pastor, pray for me. But he also needs your prayers. And not only that, nothing will bring joy to the pastor than to see the sheep of his fold meeting together in corporate prayer which really is a lead in to the second point
First lets look at Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Also let’s look at 3 John 1:3-4
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
If God’s people really want to show appreciation to their pastor, If we want to show appreciation to Ben, walk in the truth, imitate his life of faith. There is no greater joy for the pastor than to see that what he is teaching from God’s word is fruitful and active and changing the lives of the people he shepherds to the glory of God. On the converse side there is no greater destruction to the joy of a pastor when his people continue in indifference towards sin and are void of community and any evidence of Christian growth.
In this setting I am preaching to the choir. You men are here because you value community and you value growth. But if I can offer you any encouragement in the Lord for how to show appreciation for our pastor, pray for him, pray with him, and pray with others as he calls you to do so. Model the Christian life in season and out of season, by this I mean in your church life and in your private life, but above all as we lead a changing culture of community within our church, teach this message to others.
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